Sleeping with the Enemy: The Blue Demons of DePaul

Your Fighting Hoyas of Georgetown look to pick up the pieces tomorrow night against the Blue Demons of DePaul, and as usual we here at THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON are bringing you everything you need to know about Georgetown's next opponent.  Here with us to dish on all things Demons is our buddy Dan Stack, who you need to follow on the twitters and can find at the casual sites Today's Fastbreak and FanRag Sports.  Let's do this!

DePaul! What the heck are you guys smoking and where can I get some?

While DePaul did lose to Villanova on Saturday, they are looking more like a confident bunch these days and it's truly remarkable this is the same team that lost six in a row prior to conference play. With Billy Garrett Jr. stepping up and becoming a mature, confident leader, the rest of the team follows his beat. So, as he goes, so goes the Demons. That was the case at Villanova, where Garrett Jr had just seven points and four turnovers.

Demon fans are still on edge, though, and many are still expecting the other shoe to drop. This is not an atrocious team like you're used to seeing. I'm assuming this still doesn't make last season's loss to DePaul in the Big East Tournament any easier?

Still, this is a team that is slowly getting better and buying into each other.

Who are some of the guys that the Hoyas need to watch out for on Tuesday night?

Well, that's the beauty behind this DePaul team, as their balance is what is really spurring on this team. Did you know the Demons have four (Garrett Jr. Myke Henry, Tommy Hamilton and Jamee Crockett) players among the top-16 scorers in the Big East? They also have a pick-and-pop stretch four in Forrest Robinson they love to get going. Robinson had five first-half three pointers en route to a career-high 20 points in the the in win at Creighton.

DePaul is gifted offensively, it's on the other end of the court where they can be exposed. On offense, though, the balance is their calling card. But if I had to narrow it down, watch out for Garrett Jr, of course, and the Illinois transfer Henry, as he can mix it up down low and shoot from the perimeter effectively. He's been MIA of late, though.

I have no idea how Oliver Purnell survived last season, but do you think he has already earned another on the sidelines due to DePaul's headline-grabbing start out of the gate in the Big East? Is that a good thing?

I don't think Purnell's job security is set in stone through 17 games. There is too much time left on the season to determine his fate.

That said, DePaul would love for him to finally get the program lifted off the ground and save the money they would have to eat if they were to fire him. He has been given a long leash, for certain, and that patience has been tested. It's great to see him off to a great start and if he can get the team to postseason play (including the NIT or, gasp!, the CBI) this year, there would at least some modicum of progress. If he flames out and has another losing season, Purnell may get his pink slip.

Simply put, the Demons need some momentum before they move into their new arena. And DePaul desperately wants Purnell, in what would be Garrett's senior year (that is when the arena would open-2017), to be the coach at the time. But if they have to, they will let him go

Which teams in the Big East are making the NCAA Tournament?

I got the Big East getting in at least six. Which ones, well that remains to be seen. If I had to guess today, I would say Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, Georgetown, Butler and St. John's (think they'll turn it around after 0-3 start in conference play).

Which team is winning the Super Bowl?

To be honest, I predicted a Super Bowl rematch in September with Seattle repeating. So, I'm gonna stick with my early prediction. Russell Wilson keeps makes game-changing plays and defense wins championships as they say.

You're a DePaul guy but also a Mets and Knicks fan, which means you, like me, are insane and enjoy pain. Couple of questions here. First, how much has Carmelo Anthony killed the Knicks? Second, when do you think the Mets can legitimately contend for a World Series?

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't call myself a Knicks fan. I wrote about them before, but to be honest I am indifferent to the NBA when it comes to rooting for a specific team. As a New Yorker, I admit I do want to see them do well. And no, I am not saying that with a bag over my head in defiance.

To answer your first question, I wouldn't pin all the blame on Anthony. He was dammed if he did, dammed if he didn't. He would have been crucified if he left New York and he has to carry a team that is beyond putrid. That said, he should just shut it down (when it comes to his knee injury) and let the Knicks finish out their full-tank fallout

As for the Mets, well color me an eternal optimist. We know pitching can carry teams in the postseason (Hello, look at San Francisco!), and the Mets have it in spades. With Matt Harvey back joining NL ROY Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Dillon Gee (if not traded), this is a rotation that should be feared.

I humbly believe the Mets can contend for a postseason berth this year and start contending for a World Series shortly after that. Their window is definitely in the next five years.

What's your perception of this Hoyas team?

Same as it ever was. That's a grind-it-out team that loves to out-physical you into submission.

They make it tough for you in a half-court game and I'm sure that's what John Thompson III will be looking to do come Tuesday. With D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera one of the best guards in the league and Josh Smith looking like an immovable force these days, they have the makeup of classic Thompson-led team.

Final score prediction?

Ok since I am a DePaul fan and want to win, I'll do what I did last time and predict a Georgetown win and hope I'm wrong. Plus, Georgetown is the better team after all.

So, I'll say Georgetown 67 DePaul 60.